Changing Lives

Trayvon Martin (1995 - 2012) was shot to death by a man who felt threatened and was supported by a law to stand his ground with no duty to retreat.

Christina Taylor Green (2001 -2011) died when a gunman opened fire at a public event hosted by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Addie Mae Collins (1949-1963), Denise McNair (1951-1963), Carole Robinson (1949-1963), Cynthia Wesley (1949-1963) all died in the racist bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.      - cited in Healing the Heart of Democracy, by Parker Palmer

These are publicized names, but there are many, many more whose names we will never hear, but whose families weep and grieve and find no comfort at the loss of their child.  Every day poverty, racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, white privilege, fear motivated laws and unexamined lives cause the death of children in our world, country, state and communities.

I was moved this past Sunday, as Pastor PJ Banks-Anderson named the families in the St. Stephen's UCC community and asked for prayers for sons and grandsons, nephews, and all of the young men whose skin color automatically puts them at risk (my phrase). 

The sons are killed and the daughters are raped.  Who would dare to raise children in such a time as this?  Can we open our hearts enough to weep with those who are torn apart by the death of their child?  Will those of us with privilege stand with those who seek to change laws and traditions that put other children in the line of fire?  Will we teach our children to be compassionate, loving, gentle human beings by modeling Jesus' example of welcoming and joining the stranger and outcast? 

I didn't really want to know that Michigan's law is similar to the one in Florida that led to Trayvon Martin's death and the shooter's acquittal.  This is how the "Self-Defense Act" (Stand Your Ground ... Shoot First) is written in Michigan (my emphasis added):

An individual who has not or is not engaged in the commission of a crime at the time he or she uses deadly force may use deadly force against another individual anywhere he or she has the legal right to be with no duty to retreat if either of the following applies:

            The individual honestly and reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary   to prevent the imminent death of or imminent great bodily harm to himself or herself or to another individual.

            The individual honestly and reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary   to prevent the imminent sexual assault of himself or herself or of another individual.

Anthony Robinson suggests in Transforming Congregational Culture (p. 37) that "the church is a fellowship, a gathering of those who are in the process of being changed, of those who are being saved and made new, and who invite others to join them in this adventure and in this life."  C. Kirk Hadaway (Behold I Do a New Thing, p. 26-28) adds that "lack of growth in a church implies that lives are not being changed ...  Many churches exist "to satisfy people, not to change them; to meet their 'felt needs,' not to deal with the  causes of their discomfort."

Perhaps it is appropriate to refuse to be comforted when children are being killed every day.  Clearly it is appropriate to use all of the power that we can muster to challenge systems that so easily sacrifice the most vulnerable.  We must pray ... educate ourselves ... vote ... write our legislators ... change our own violent thoughts and actions ... develop the fruits of the spirit in our own lives (love, peace, faithfulness, goodness, gentleness, patience, kindness, and self-control) ... and be about the business of changing lives for the better. 

Peace with Justice,

Cheryl

Fiftieth Anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's, 

"I Have a Dream" Speech